Council names new city clerk

CITY HALL ‚Äî Sarah Gorman, currently city clerk of Santa Clarita, Calif., has been named Santa Monica‚Äôs new city clerk, succeeding Maria Stewart who retired recently, officials announced Tuesday.

As city clerk, Gorman, 38, will receive a base salary of $159,912 and relocation assistance of up to $10,000.

The appointment follows a nationwide recruitment that attracted more than 80 candidates and City Council interviews with two finalists over the past month, city officials said.

Mayor Richard Bloom announced the appointment welcoming Gorman to the community and noting that Gorman was considered uniquely qualified for the post by the City Council.

“Ms. Gorman‚Äôs experience, education and focus on civic engagement are strengths that will allow her to serve the Santa Monica community with distinction for many years to come,” Bloom said in a statement released by City Hall. “She impressed us with her dedication to customer service and use of innovative technology to make government transparent for the community. The depth of her background in elections and records management makes her well qualified on all fronts.”

In 2010, Gorman was named city clerk of Santa Clarita, Calif., where she administers stand-alone elections and provides clerk services for council meetings and study sessions. She also administers records management, oversees city mail services, supervises the risk management division, oversees the contracts for the city attorney, insurance issues and compliance with safety regulations.

Before becoming the clerk, Gorman worked as an attorney in the public and election law field. She worked in the public law group Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP from 2005 to 2009 specializing in election law, ethics law and public records law. She also worked for Kaufman Downing LLP as an associate attorney from 2001 to 2005 providing guidance on election law, conflict of interest and campaign finance law. She was an associate attorney and law clerk from 1998 to 2001 at the firm of Robie & Matthai ACP.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with the energetic Santa Monica residents, council and staff,” Gorman said.

Gorman received her legal degree from USC in 1999. She earned a bachelor of arts in political science and English literature from USC in 1996. She and her husband, Douglas, have a daughter.

Santa Monica‚Äôs City Clerk‚Äôs Office is charged with maintaining City Hall‚Äôs legislative records, overseeing elections, preparing City Council meeting agendas and minutes, maintaining the Municipal Code, dispersing mail to various departments and maintaining city records.